Arizona Football: Wildcats’ 2017 season preview and predictions
By Zach Bigalke
Offense
Arizona enters 2017 with a relatively positive outlook on offense. A deep group of offensive linemen bringsa combined 89 starts to the table. Multi-year starter Layth Friekh leads the unit at left tackle. Overall, 70 percent of the offensive production in terms of yardage returns, notwithstanding with several major transfers and graduations. The Wildcats should benefit this year from a group of younger players who were thrown into the fire last season.
Running was the team’s strength last year. Arizona averaged 235 yards per game on the ground. Last year’s top rushing team in the Pac-12 should be strong again on the ground in 2017. The running back corps are deep even with the loss of Samajie Grant to graduation. Zach Green and Nick Wilson offering a dangerous one-two punch out of the backfield if both remain healthy. The diminutive J.J. Taylor offers another elusive presence carrying the ball.
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Will Rodriguez finally utilize Shawn Poindexter as a dependable target in the passing game? The junior college transfer caught just six passes in 2016 and will need to be a bigger presence in his final season. With Nate Phillips and Trey Griffey both gone, he is the most intriguing breakout candidate at receiver.
Will there be a quarterback battle?
Things have cleared up a bit at the quarterback position, with Anu Solomon transferring to Baylor in December. Brandon Dawkins was thrust into the starting role after Solomon suffered yet another injury. That yielded mixed results, as Dawkins attempted an average of just 18 passes per game. Instead, Rodriguez relied on his sophomore quarterback to run the ball. Dawkins responded with an average of over 94 yards per game, fifth among all FBS quarterbacks.
But the Wildcats will not succeed unless Dawkins or another quarterback can find a more effective rhythm through the air. Coming out of spring practices, Dawkins seems to be the presumed starter heading into the fall. Khalil Tate did little to impress coaches, though we could see some of electric freshman K’Hari Lane this season.
Losing out on Braxton Burmeister to Oregon on National Signing Day put Rodriguez in a bind as he heads into a critical season. The shine is coming off his bloom as an offensive genius, and he will likely ride or die depending on how well Dawkins improves.